Earlier this year Skills for Health revised the Drugs & Alcohol National Occupational Standards (DANOS) which guide skills and competencies for those working in substance related roles.
DANOS are intended to be used as part of qualifications, training and development for drug and alcohol workers. They are considered important given there are no statutory minimum standards for working in the drug and alcohol field, though there have been calls to change this.
DANOS also outline drug and alcohol competencies for other health and social care roles, like the skills needed (AH10) for delivering Identification and Brief Advice (IBA). By describing the particular skills or knowledge needed to undertake a particular roles, NOS seek to ensure drug and alcohol activity is undertaken to a nationally recognised standard.
The Drug and Alcohol specific NOS can be searched here on the Skills for Health Website. See here for a document outlining the changes Made To Drugs & Alcohol NOS In 2014.
The Federation of Drug and Alcohol Professionals (FDAP) also have code of practice which some employers require workers to sign up to. The Substance Misuse Skills Consortium also aims to improve the treatment workforce primarily through sharing guidance, research and other resources.
Substance Misuse skills in the Criminal Justice Sector
Skills for Justice have also produced a Alcohol & Drugs Competency Assessment Framework (ADCAF) tool to enhance substance misuse in the Criminal Justice field.
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